As always great to talk about sports with you, AX. Yes, I totally agree with your analysis. The Lakers did make a futuristic decision by signing Kobe to maximum contract but I am not sure how they are going to keep that winning history alive. Yes, Shaq can be a hard as* since he also wants to be the man but it is hard to get quality big men in the league. With a good big man you can win so much in the league.Shaq definitely wanted way too much money ..I think he should get around 10-11 milion a year from now on..not more than that. About Phil, I dont know why ONLY KOBE had problems with him...Shaq respects him like father and Jordan had no problem with him..oh well weird who knows...Phil's book will definitely sell more cuz of KOBE. Being Jordan will be no easy thing for Kobe but again Jordan had Pippen, Rodman, Kerr,Kukoc so many great players who could change the game by their performance. As far as I m concerned I dont see any "great" players in the team so far. Also, some will say that it is unfair to compare him against Jordan;Jordan is Jordan;Kobe is Kobe!! Right? Wrong...If it wasn't for his ego to be as good as Jordan and be the man in La land he wouldnt have created this fiasco. The villain of La lakers story looks like Kobe, and there also could be only one hero...to save the franchise--it will again be Kobe.